A manager prepares for a short leave of absence — and the team steps up with calm, professional leadership.

Want to follow along more easily? The full script for this episode is free and available below.
If you’d like the complete learning experience —

including the workbook, 7 exercises, and the pronunciation audios —
The complete lesson is waiting for you in Episode 11D
https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-11d-back-151593779

Synopsis:

When Douglas announces he’ll be taking a short leave of absence to care of his mother, the team at Finn Enterprises responds with steady professionalism and empathy. Across three scenes, listeners hear how colleagues balance personal news with project planning, share responsibilities clearly, and use calm leadership language to keep work on track.

Character Spotlight:

Adam

Supports the team by taking over client communication and staying accessible so coworkers feel comfortable asking questions.

Lyla

Asks clarifying questions, takes on content updates, and “flags anything that needs a decision,” modeling proactive communication.

Penny

Provides structure, assigns responsibilities, and keeps deadlines realistic — a steady leadership presence throughout the meeting.

Douglas

Explains his leave with clarity and honesty, balancing personal responsibility with trust in his team’s professionalism.

Learning Hook (Zoe’s Grammar & Vocabulary Corner):

This episode highlights essential workplace language for responsibility and leadership, including:

• “follow up” — checking progress or confirming completion

• “flag anything that needs a decision” — bringing attention to issues early

• shared‑responsibility phrases like “I can handle that” and “I’ll keep everyone informed”

Learners can practice these forms in the workbook’s exercises, using examples from the story.

Tagline:

Leadership isn’t always loud — sometimes it’s the calm language that keeps a team moving forward.

We’d love to hear from you.

Share your thoughts or questions at podcastwordsatwork@gmail.com

Listener messages help us shape future episodes and keep this community warm and connected

Start here to see how the episodes, voices, and tools work together to help you learn English.

✨ Synopsis

“Start Here” is your guide — an engaging introduction about how this podcast works, how to use each episode with confidence, and how to keep learning more over time.

A FREE copy of the script is available at the bottom of this page.

🎙️ What This Episode Covers

• What Words at Work is and who it’s designed for

• How each episode is structured

• How to use the workbooks, transcripts, and pronunciation guides

• Simple explanations by the voices you’ll hear

• Where to begin if you’re brand new

• How to build confidence step by step

📘 Personalities from Our Episodes will explain:

• Why stories help you learn

• How to practice listening and speaking

• Why short episodes work

• How to follow along at your own pace

• How to use the downloadable materials

· Why listening twice works

Here’s what’s in our workbooks for you to use:

* Meet Today’s Cast
* Podcast Script
* Vocabulary List with Definitions
* Matching exercise, words and meaning
* Fill‑in‑the‑blank ( sentences you complete with vocabulary words)
* Comprehension Questions – make you think, and we give Suggested Answers
* Vocabulary with quotes from script – for special episodes
* Extended Vocabulary with Workplace & Cultural Notes
* Tiered Writing Prompts (A2–B2 learners) –
first we make you think, then we make you write LOL

* Pronunciation Practice – a downloadable audio file
* Self‑Assessment Rubric

A gentle Valentine’s Day mystery of trust and new beginnings — with a free workbook bundle as our gift today.

A gentle mystery unfolds as Lyla and Penny discover what Adam has been protecting all along, leading them to a window filled with quiet courage and new beginnings.

This episode is my Valentine’s Day gift to you — the workbook and pronunciation audio file are completely FREE.

Our workbooks include the full script (easy to follow along), seven creative exercises, and pronunciation practice so you can listen, practice, and learn confidently.
Links at BOTTOM of this page.

Synopsis:

Adam has been acting strangely — sending mysterious instructions, avoiding dinners, and insisting that Lyla and Penny arrive at his apartment in “soft shoes.” In this gentle, emotional episode, we follow the mystery from a cozy tea‑filled morning in Lyla’s apartment to the quiet, shadowed hallway outside Adam’s door… and finally to the warm light of the window where Chloe sits for the very first time.

Through a flashback at the animal shelter, we learn how Adam slowly earned Chloe’s trust after she was rescued from a hoarding case. And in the present day, Lyla and Penny discover the truth: Adam hasn’t been hiding from them — he’s been protecting a frightened cat who is learning, moment by moment, how to feel safe again.

This is a story about patience, soft routines, and the quiet courage it takes to heal.

Character Spotlight:

Adam

A steady, gentle presence, he discovers that healing doesn’t happen quickly — it happens quietly. His patience becomes the bridge between Chloe’s fear and her new life.

Chloe

A ginger cat rescued from a hoarding house, learning to trust the world again. Her journey from hiding to sitting confidently in the window is the emotional heart of the episode.

Lyla & Penny

Two friends who bring warmth, humor, and curiosity — and who finally witness the moment Adam has been waiting for.

Learning Hook (Zoe’s Grammar & Vocabulary Corner):

This episode focuses on the present continuous, a structure used to describe actions happening right now or changes still in progress. Throughout the story, you’ll hear phrases like:

• “She’s watching the trees.”

• “She’s discovering what peace feels like.”

• “She’s learning that this is her home.”

• “She’s starting to trust the world again.”

Zoe highlights expressions that show movement, growth, and gentle change — perfect for learners who want to understand how English describes ongoing actions and emotional transitions.

Learners can practice these forms in the workbook’s exercises, using real examples from the story.

Tagline:

“Healing grows in the quiet moments.”

We’d love to hear from you.

If this episode touched you — or if you have your own funny cat stories, questions, or reflections — we’d love to hear from you.

You can email us anytime at:

podcastwordsatwork@gmail.com

Your messages help us shape future episodes and keep this community warm and connected.

Visit a shelter and take your time. But be warned: the Cat Distribution System loves to choose new humans.

© 2026 Lawrence Weiser. All rights reserved.

“Words at Work: ESL for EVERY Day” is a trademark of Lawrence Weiser.

Not for redistribution without written permission.